These Auto Thieves Aren`t Running On All Cylinders

December 03, 1992|By Flynn McRoberts.

MT. PROSPECT — Car thieves, they were. Mechanics, they were not.

A 1986 Pontiac Firebird was stolen from the Amoco service station at 1701 W. Algonquin Rd., earlier this week. But the offenders didn`t get very far. The car, which had been towed in for repairs the day before, conked out on them a short distance away, authorities said.

``Whoever stole it drove about a mile and a half and the car probably broke down,`` said Bill Roscop, crime prevention officer with the Mt. Prospect police. ``Smart crooks, huh? Steal a car that`s in for service.``

Figuring it was simply an abandoned vehicle, the Illinois State Police recovered the Firebird later Monday from the Elmhurst exit of the Northwest Tollway, authorities said.

Mt. Prospect authorities received a stolen-vehicle call from the service station at 1:17 p.m. Monday, Roscop said.

Later that day, service station employees went over to the police pound and towed the car back again, said station manager Tony LoBosco.